Middle East & Southeast Asia Vacation: Dubai...A long layover

2016 was a great year for travel!  In May, Hendrik and I took a long weekend in the Dominican Republic.  In June, Caleb and I took a graduation trip to London and Ireland and to top off the year Hendrik and I took our really big vacation this year to Thailand and Bali with extended layovers in Dubai both going and coming home.  When we decided that we wanted to take this vacation I knew that there were two ways to get there 1 through Dubai and 1 through LA going over Asia.  I purposely found the Emirates flights because I wanted to layover in Dubai. Although it was a layover I'm so familiar with the city that 12 hours or more is the perfect amount of time to sight see and do a few things with Hendrik and show him the ropes.  I was so excited to get back to the Middle East and show Hendrik the place that is sort of like my second home.  

This post is going to cover both layovers!  We had a 10 hour layover going to Bangkok.  I deducted 4 hours from that time because once we land and got out of the airport and in a taxi that is around an hour and we had to be back in the airport and ready to board our "connecting" flight 3 hours before take off.  That left us 6 hours for exploring and it was the perfect amount of time and kept us busy even though we were REALLY tired!

We left Dallas on Thursday October 13, 2016 and arrived in Dubai on Friday the 14th at noon.  We flew Emirates directly from Dallas to Dubai.  I love Emirates airlines!  The cabin feels roomier, they give you real silverware with your meals, and they have THE BEST movies to choose from in flight.  

In Dallas ready to get this show on the road

After arrival I got my carry on and we hauled butt out of the airport.  We ALWAYS forget to take a backpack for Hendrik's carry on and we have bought, now after this trip, 2 backpacks while on vacation LOL! I'm sure I won't forget that little detail any more.  OK so... when exiting the airport we got a private car taxi and talked to the driver, for 300 Dirham (approx 100$) he would take us by all the sights, the souk, the Palm, and end at the Mall.  It would take about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.  I thought it was a great deal and a way Hendrik could see the city.  The traffic was light and our driver was a great guide.

first stop Burj Al Arab- hotel that emulates a sail from a boat

also one of the nicest and one of the only free public beaches in Dubai

 Next we drove down the the Dubai Marina.  Not much going on here but the views of the buildings are really amazing. 

After the marina we drove around the Palm, stopped at the souk (didn't get any good pictures there) and then headed back to be dropped off at the mall.  We walked around the mall for a while before grabbing a late lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.  Once we ate and got our bellies full were were REALLY crashing so we headed out the side entrance and viewed the Burj Khalifa.  I had tickets to go up to the top but Hendrik said he wasn't really interested in doing that and I had already done it before so we headed back to the airport to wait on our flight which would take off at 10:30 that night.  Luckily our terminal was very empty and we were able to grab some good seats.  I got all caffeinated and surfed the web while Hendrik napped.  

Burj Khalifa- the tallest tower in the world

airport life

tiniest coke ever!  I think that the Coca-Cola in the Middle East tastes so much better than anywhere else.  I always drank Dr. Pepper until I lived in Iraq and got hooked on the extra acidic cokes there!  Hendrik liked his baby version on our flight from Dubai to Bangkok. 

A few days in Dubai

After leaving Egypt on Monday January 17th I flew to Kuwait for a connecting flight back to Dubai.  I checking into my favorite hotel the Renaissance by Marriott and stayed in for a whole day and a half.  I just slept, got all clean, and ordered room service. I was so sick of moving hotels, being sick, and on the go that I needed to recoup and relax.  I had a whole 3 days of activities planned out for my last days in Dubai but I really didn't get around to any of them except a couple.  I just felt too bad and was really ready to get settled in back at home.  Plus I felt like a tourist in my own city since Dubai had become so familiar with me. 

After lounging around for days I decided to drag myself out and do a few of my planned activities so I went out for a day of headache filled fun.

I headed to the Dubai Mall.  I went to the top of the tallest tower in the world, the Burj Khalifa.  Out of all the days in Dubai the day I went to the top it rained. LOL Probably the first time in MONTHS. 

A view from the top

another view from the top

After that I went back down to the mall and visited to really neat aquarium they have there.

Following the aquarium I did a little lunch, a bit of shopping, and then headed back to my hotel.

I left Dubai the next day and arrived back in the U.S. on January 21st.  I am sad to report that was my last use of my passport and it is locked up in my safety deposit box.  I hope that I will get to travel again soon but really I have no idea when or where...mainly the WHEN I can always find where.  LOL

Now I am all caught up on my travel post almost a year later. 

Happy Traveling

Leaving Iraq...Arriving in Egypt

Last time leavig BIAP

In the air leaving Iraq, flying over the base

Bright and early on January 10th, I left Baghdad for the last time in my life.  We arrived in Dubai and of course its late January but still it is hot.  A friend that I worked with was on his way home also so we decided to eat Indian before we left to go our separate ways.  We only had a short time and I had a few things I needed to get done before heading back to the airport. I had gotten a great suggestion for an Indian restaurant before I left Iraq so Wayne and I set out on foot to go eat Indian for the first time ever.  We found Akbar’s very easy and since it was a late lunch Wayne and I were the only ones in the restaurant.  I had a great experience with the food and I will be eating Indian again. 

Wayne studying the menu, acting goofy

Excited to check out the menu and try Indian for the first time.

This is what they bring to the table before your meal.  Very good!

Chicken dish that was so good and packed full of flavor.  I'm sorry but I can't remember the name.

Some spinach dish that had chicken in it, very creamy (can't remember the official name)

On our way back to the hotel to get our gear and head to the airport I had to stop and buy a new suit case at the market because I was terrified mine was going to bust open due to being extremely full. I knew I would want to buy a few souvenirs along the way and that bag wasn’t even going to hold another sock. LOL

After saying our goodbyes I went to the airport and left for Kuwait then on to Cairo.  Of course all the flights were delayed.  I should have known that when my flight out of BIAP (Baghdad International Airport) was delayed it would set the tune for every flight. And just a handy tip NEVER, I repeat NEVER think if visiting or flying through Kuwait....It is TERRIBLE.  After much agony I arrived in Cairo around midnight.  After wondering around looking for my tour guide for what seemed like forever I found him and headed for hotel.  A high note was when I got off the plane I actually had someone holding one of those little boards with my name on it...LOL I felt so fancy. 

My first stay in Cairo was about an hour away from the airport at the Oasis Hotel.  After taking long, hot, very needed bath I hopped into bed and slept for a about 5 hours before getting up to get ready for the day.  Looking back, this first day of travel pretty much set my tone for the whole trip.  It was a wonderful time and I am so glad I did it but it was very fast pace and not a lot of down time.

More of my Egyptian travels to come!!!

Walk Like An Egyptian

Can you? Well I will be in January because I am going to EGYPT for a week before I go back to Dubai and then finally HOME! I can't wait.  I have been working with a British tour company finalizing my itinerary and I got my e-ticket for my air-o-plane ride today so it's official.  I am going to visit Cairo, an overnight trip to a beautiful oasis, and also an overnight trip in Alexandria.  It's going to be so much fun and I am really pumped to be traveling SOLO! I think this is going to be a huge growing experience for me (and mom) and I just really think I am going to have so much fun.  I can't wait to see the pyramids and take a Nile dinner cruise. 

I am sure it's going to be a trip of a lifetime! 

not to mention so many aweomse photos.

After my week in Egypt I head to Dubai for 3 days.  I plan on doing a lot of sightseeing that I haven't really gotten to do because I have always been rushing to and from work. 

 It's going to be a great trip and a GREAT way to END this part of my life in the Middle East.